The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-04-21
STREET RAILWAY.
AN ENTERPRISE THAT THE TWIN
CITY SHOULD HAVE.

A Scheme that is Both Feasible and
Practicable-Its Advantages to the
City.
With the rapid growth of the Twin
City and the consequent scattering of
our population, frequently at wide in
tervals throughout our corporate linn
its, the need of a system of street rail
way becomes more and more apparent.
In the long winter days when the
streets are muddy and slippery, and
the weather so inclement, that walk
ing is severe undertaking, street cars
would be a luxury which would be
fully appreciated and enjoyed. With
such cheap and convenient facilities
many trips could be taken and much
business transacted that otherwise
would have to be in great part neg
lected. 1t would be boon to the weary
laborer as he returns to his cottage
after long days work, and the young
ladies in Winston who attend the Sa-
lem Academy, as well as the children
who live at considerable distance
from the Graded School, would con-
tribute frequent patronage to the en-
terprise.
The route that would probably
be most acceptable to the great
est number of our citizens, upon which
a line of street railway should oe con-
structed, would be about as follows ::
Starting at the southern extremity
of Main street, passing before the front
entrance of Salem Academy, thence
back to Main street northward up to
Third, turning the corner to Liberty :;
up Liberty to Seventh street, turning
down Old Town street to Fifth, out
Fifth to Summit street, thence to
Fourth; down Fourth to Cherry, down
Cherry, through Salem, passing Min
eral Spring, thence around to the
starting point on Main street.
This route would form "belt line"
and would pass every church in the
two places, save that of the Baptist,
and run in very short distance of that :;
pass the Court House, the Opera
House, the hotels, the Graded School,
and Salem Academy. In time, branch
routes, traversing other and more
suburban portions of the city could be
constructed, and thus the out-ofthe-
way building lots, now almost drug
in the real estate market, would be
enhanced in value by being thus
brought into easy communication with
other portions of the city. One of the
features upon which Birmingham lays
unusual stress is the claim that it has
a more extensive network of street
railways than any other city in Amer
lea, and to this advantage has been
attributed the unprecedented rise in
real estate holdings. A street railway
around Belo Pond, or one through
Centreville to Waughtown, or through
Liberty" and the northeastern por.
ton of'the city, would place upon the
market some of the most beautiful and
desirable building lots to be had in the
community. All holders of property
in these sections OF the city woulo
doubtless be quick to subscribe fol-
stock in company, which promised
profitable enhancement of property
values.
Street car companies have been Or
ganized in Charlotte, Durham ant
Raleigh, the track laid and the car
now running. During the past month
another organization has been con
summated at Wilmington by tn
younger men of that place, who art
now bestirring themselves to infuse .
new life into the old city. All of tn
above companies now in operation art
delighted with the result of their frs
few months operation.
The Raleigh railway was built by .
man from Texas, who, after three
months work, and the expenditure O
but $4,000, was offered $4,000 fol
his franchise and plant by local syn
dictate. He accepted the offer, ano
on the following day made them al
offer in turn of $1,000 to let him ou
of the bargain, which they refused t.
do. This, in itself, is sufficient proc